30,000? So What. Rush Limbaugh drew 40,000 in WA State

Opinion Journal ^ | August 29, 2000 | John Fund

[chardonnay]

.....an estimated 40,000 people turned out for a GOP rally featuring gubernatorial candidate John Carlson and radio host Rush Limbaugh, making his first political endorsement in eight years.

The cheering, foot-stomping crowd was so big that the overflow had to watch it on jumbo TV screens mounted behind the stage. When Mr. Limbaugh came out from behind a huge American flag, the crowd roared. They roared again when they were told that they were attending the largest political rally in the state's history, eclipsing the 25,000 who greeted Bill Clinton in Tacoma four years ago.

The crowd was not only large but diverse. Longhaired motorcycle riders stood next to Spokane grandmothers who had traveled 300 miles by bus. Most were there because of Mr. Limbaugh or fellow headliner William Bennett, the former education secretary. But Mr. Carlson, who heads the free-market Washington Institute Foundation, has his own devoted following, thanks to his years promoting successful ballot initiatives such as a "three strikes and you're out" sentencing law and an end to racial preferences.

[chardonnay]

See Rush? 40,000 people seven years ago. Washington is NOT a blue state. I'm personally begging you to come again and campaign for Dino Rossi next year.

everyone I know is going to vote for Rossi.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Wish Rush would do that with Duncan Hunter...

Just one time, is all it would take.

[chardonnay]

I forgot to mention Kirby Wilbur KVI570 AM Seattle, who reminded us of this on the radio this morning.

I love Kirby.

[wastedyears]

Agreed

[JLS]

One time is all it would take for it to be ignored.

As for candidates who have never even run a statewide campaign, there is a reason they never become president. Running a national campaign takes a knack that is honed or learned running statewide campaigns.

[r9etb]

Washington is NOT a blue state.

Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia are largely blue, though.

[Jet Jaguar]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1937692/posts

Different article. Same subject.

[max americana]

I volunteered for Dino Rossi in his last gov run (as you may remember, the DEms stole via ballot counting). I now reside and work in L.A, and have always known for a long time that WA state was NEVER a solid blue state. Drive outside of the People’s Republik of Seattle and WA state Freepers know what Im talking about.

[chardonnay]

Say hi to Dean Logan for us. He’s counting your ballots in LA now. LOL. Sorry.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Actual title:

The Other Washington

[chardonnay]

Thank you. I just wish Rush would come here again and campaign for Dino Rossi.

[irishtenor]

I was there.

[TheLion]

We need more rallies like this!

[SeaHawkFan]

Carlson was gutless. He had all the info he needed to take out Locke but refused to use it. Even his program manager admitted it. Kirby Wilbur has the same information, but KVI would rather have Gregoire as Governor than expose government corruption.

[taxesareforever]

Rush says that he doesn’t campaign for people. We should all just be happy that he does his air time.

[srmorton]

Many of those people, while they may be Democrats, came to see Oprah, not Obama. I would not give Obama the time of day, but I might be tempted to go see Oprah. I am a little to the right of Attila the Hun and I LOVE Rush, but I also enjoy watching Oprah. I think Rush might be surprised if he actually watched her show from time to time. She is definitely a cut above many other talk show hosts and does not usually push a political agenda on her show. I wish that Rush would not call her “The Oprah” because she does deserve a lot of credit for what she has accomplished and for her charitable activities through her Angel Network.

[Steely Tom]

I wish that Rush would not call her “The Oprah” because

I've heard Rush call her that and I didn't interpret it as an insult. I believe he means that she's a "brand." She's an esceedingly effective communicator, and I'm sure that Rush respects that. He's always been intellectually honest.